Max Verstappen arrives in Miami for GP after missing media day for expected baby

Max Verstappen’s private jet has just landed in Miami, only hours ahead of jumping into the cockpit for the start of the grand prix weekend.

The Dutchman’s $50million Falcon 8X arrived in Miami around 8pm on Thursday evening after skipping media commitments while he and his partner Kelly Piquet waited for the birth of their first child.

The four-time world champion was granted permission from his Red Bull team and F1’s governing body the FIA to miss his usual press events.

Red Bull issued a statement on Thursday morning saying: “Max will not be attending media day in Miami as he is expecting a baby.

"All is well and he will attend the track tomorrow for the race weekend. We will not be offering any further comment at this time in respect towards the privacy of Max and his family.”

However, the 27-year-old is now in Florida to contest this weekend’s event which kicks off at 12:30pm local time for FP1 before sprint qualifying four hours later.

Piquet is the daughter of three-time world champion Nelson Piquet and went public with their relationship in 2021. 

She has a daughter, Penelope, with former Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat, and this is her first child with Verstappen. But no official announcement has been made about the birth.

Meanwhile, Verstappen, who has a close relationship with Penelope, has previously said he will not change his driving style when he becomes a father.

He said: “I have done it already, so it is not like it is completely new for me. Now it is my DNA, let’s say it like that, but I think it is absolutely fine and I know the baby will be in good hands anyway. So for me, you focus on your racing and then go back to your family."

Nico Hulkenberg, who is the only other father on the F1 grid, has joked that he hopes Verstappen's first child is a "good sleeper”.

Hulkenberg, whose daughter was born in 2021, said: “I hope it is a good sleeper and we've been quite fortunate and there will be lots to discover, many beautiful and nice things that come with it."

Other fathers who have recently competed in F1 are Sergio Perez, Kevin Magnussen, Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, Romain Grosjean, and Felipe Massa.